A Moratorium Lifted

About two years ago, I decided it would be interesting to count how many books I owned that I had yet to read. The number was nearly in the three digit range. I was, therefore, placed on a book-buying ban.

Slowly, very slowly, I have whittled that number down from ninety-something to sixty-something. Not bad, really, especially since I have a tendency to acquire books in spite of myself. Also not bad considering this number does not include assigned reading or borrowed books. Still, there are some thick books left to finish reading. Complete works. Shakespeare, Poe, Frost. There are some challenges ahead. Dante, Plato, Machiavelli, a few Russians. Eeek!

Well, I, personally, have been very good about not buying myself recreational reading for two years. Then the Boss gave me a Borders gift card for my birthday. So on Sunday, in the company of Squirrel, who was present at the beginning of the ban, I declared the moratorium ended.

Within an hour, I had acquired books 2, 3, and 4 of the Underland Chronicles, one Tolkien, and one Bryson. I had already read the Underlands, and by the end of the night, I had finished Roverandom, leaving only one new unread book. Woohoo!

I have this habit of weeding out old books to make room for new books. Space has always been limited. In fact, I have had the same three bookcases for about as long as I can remember and, until the last three years, I was very good about not outgrowing that space. No more. I really cannot purge sufficiently anymore. I may as well gouge out an eye or amputate a limb. In fact, I might even have enough homeless books to fill my small bookcase again. I've been checking Ikea, the Goodwill store, and Craigslist for bookcases I could afford, all to no avail.

Then I went to Biglots.

Now I have a bookcase, for which I paid less than $30, which will be assembled and filled this weekend.

New books! And a place to put them! YAY!